Swing Shift (1984)

A woman finds romance when she takes a job at an aircraft plant to help make ends meet after her husband goes off to war.

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writer:

Nancy Dowd (as Rob Morton)

Stars:

Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Christine Lahti

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Goldie Hawn	...	Kay Walsh
Kurt Russell	...	Lucky Lockhart
Christine Lahti	...	Hazel Zanussi
Fred Ward	...	Biscuits Toohey
Ed Harris	...	Jack Walsh
Sudie Bond	...	Annie
Holly Hunter	...	Jeannie Sherman
Patty Maloney	...	Laverne
Lisa Pelikan	...	Violet Mulligan
Susan Peretz	...	Edith Castle
Joey Aresco	...	Johnny Bonnaro
Morris 'Tex' Biggs	...	Clarence
Reid Cruickshanks	...	Spike
Danny Darst	...	Deacon (as Daniel Dean Darst)
Dennis Fimple	...	Rupert George

Storyline

Jack and Kay Walsh are typical of many couples of the 1940s, where he is the breadwinner and she the housewife dependent upon him to do the man's duties around the house. Jack believes one of their neighbors in the housing complex in which they live in Los Angeles is white trash - he letting her know so at every opportunity, while Kay is quietly curious about her. That neighbor is streetwise Hazel Zanussi, an aspiring singer who does get a chance to sing on occasion at the club managed by her casual boyfriend, Biscuits Toohey, although he relegates her to being one of the taxi dancers more often against her wants, while he cheats on her behind her back despite truly having feelings for her. Hazel just wants to make an honest living. Their worlds are turned upside down on December 7, 1941 when the US enters WWII with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. Jack immediately enlists in the Navy, and while he will send money home, his decision leaves Kay largely to fend for herself. Against...

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Plot Keywords:

lifting up dress | 1940s | panties | blonde | year 1941 | 

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Taglines:

When America marched off to war the women marched into the factory. From then on...nothing was the same.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original script was written by Nancy Dowd and then re-written by others. When the film was released, the writing credit was assigned to the fictional "Rob Morton".

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Goofs

In the first minutes of the movie, the character Jack comes out of the shower and sits in a chair with only a towel wrapped around him. As he sits, it is revealed that he is, in fact, naked under the towel which is easily viewed.

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Quotes

[final lines]
Kay Walsh: Hazel... we showed 'um didn't we.
Hazel: Boy, did we ever.
[both hug and cry]

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown over old, black and white photos.

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Alternate Versions

A fan edit exists online restoring Jonathan Demme's original cut (6 mins longer). The recut uses both theatrical footage and VHS editing bay shots that have been carefully edited back in. See review for longer explanation

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Unlawful Entry/Pinocchio/A League of Their Own/Highway 61/The Adjuster (1992)

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Soundtracks

Dancing in the Dark
(uncredited)
Music by Arthur Schwartz
Lyrics by Howard Dietz

User Reviews

Well-Acted, Fairly Well-Written

In this WW2-era drama, Goldie Hawn is the main character, and she tries to keep pace with the changes in her life as she goes from demure housewife from Iowa to lead lineperson in an aircraft factory by day and some-time escort of a jazz trumpeter (with a motorcycle/sidecar, no-less) by night. An interesting unfolding of the individual takes place amongst the trials of war-time life. When she finally, after many months, succumbs to the jazzman's charms, I was sympathetic toward her loneliness and formerly-repressed need for expression. During her tryst, it was always evident that she still loved her husband, played by Ed Harris, who was away in the navy. The fine acting jobs by Hawn, Harris, Russel and Christine Lahti are not exactly wasted in Swing Shift, but I would have liked to have seen more of the inner persons exposed, especially in regards to their thoughts and questions about why the Japanese attacked. The movie is good, but the individuals portrayed in the movie accept the war and their roles in it somewhat robotically, in that there is very little dialogue regarding the U.S. military's presence in Hawaii and other foreign countries. I feel this kind of dialogue would have helped develop the characters more. A fine move, well-directed and well-produced. Some powerful acting by Hawn, who manages to seem scared, but dauntless at the same time. Not an easy thing to do.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Swing Shift

Filming Locations:

Santa Monica, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,270,136, 15 April 1984

Gross USA:

$6,650,206

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,650,206

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Lantana, Hawn / Sylbert Movie Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1